Non-refillable bottle.



J. F. FITZGERALD.

NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 22, 1909.

950,479, Patented Mar. 1, 1910..

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JOHN F. FITZGERALD, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 1, 1910.

Application filed November 22, 1909. Serial No. 529,504.

To all whom "it may concern:

lie it known that 1, Jon): l I rrzcmmnn, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Albany, county of Albany, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Non-Refillable liottles,of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to non-refillable bottles, and its primary objectis to provide a bottle neck with a closure so constructed as to permitthe contents of the bottle to be freely decanted, but to effectuallyprevent the admission of liquid thereto, thus guarding against theunauthorized refilling of a bottle, after its original contents have.been emptied therefrom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle closure ofnovel construction, adapted to be readily applied to and secured withinthe bottle neck by simple and inexpensive self-locking means.

The construction of the improvement will be fully described hereinafter,in connection with the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification, and its novel features will be set forth and defined inthe appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of a bottleneck provided with my improved closure, parts of the latter bein shownin elevation. Fig. 2 is a side elevatlon of the outer casing of theclosure device. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the hollow cylindrical valveemployed. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View of an internally threadedand flanged collar, fitting upon the lower end of the casing; and Fig. 5is a plan view of an elastic washer adapted to be interposed between thecollar and the lower end of the casing.

The reference numeral 1 designates the neck of a bottle, or likereceptacle, formed at its base with an annular shoulder 2, and at apoint a short distance above the shoulder 2, with a second annularshoulder 3, the space 4 between said shoulders constituting an annularrecess or pocket for the purpose hereinafter explained.

The numeral 5 designates a hollow cylindrical casing open at its lowerend, and closed at its upper end by a head or cap 6, the under surface 7of which is of concave or semi-spherical contour. The casing 5 is formedwith annular rows of perforations or apertures 8 for the passage ofliquid, and

said casing is formed at its lower end with external screw threads 9 forthe engagement thereto of an internally threaded collar 10 provided atits lower edge with an internal upwardly projecting annular llange 11.The casing a) is provided at. a point above its lower end with anexternal annular rib or shoulder 12, and between said rib, and the upperedge of the collar 10 is confined a sleeve 13 of yielding material,preferably of cork or rubber. Between the lower end of the cylindricalcasing 5, and the upturned flange 11 of the collar 10 is clamped anelastic washer 14:, which assumes the inclined position shown in Fig. 1when the collar 10 is screwed upon the threaded end of the casing, owingto the upward inclination of the collar flange 11. The inner elevatedportion of the washer 14: serves as a seat for a float or hollow valve15 which is of cylindrical form, and provided at diametrically oppositepoints on its exterior with projecting pins or lugs 10 which guide andcenter the float within the casing 5. The upper end of the float orvalve is closed by a cap 17 the upper surface 18 of which is convex, andupon which is adapted to rest a Weight 19 of spherical shape.

The utility and operation of the closure device constructed as thusdescribed, will be readily understood. After the parts have beenassembled, by placing the ball weight and the cylindrical float valvewithin the casing 5, sli ping the sleeve 13 over the lower end of thecasing and securing the washer 1 1 and collar 10 upon the casing, theentire device is inserted into the bottle neck, and pushed down untilthe collar 10 rests upon the shoulder 2 of the bottle neck, and theupper edge of the sleeve 13 engages below the shoulder 3 of the bottleneck. The sleeve yields sufficiently to permit its being forced downwithin the bottle neck and as soon as it passes the shoulder 3 itexpands, filling the annular pocket 1 in the neck, as is obvious fromthe illustration in Fig. 1. Normally the ball weight holds the floatvalve upon its seat, which closes the bottle neck against the admissionor discharge of liquid. Then the bottle is turned suliiciently to movethe float valve away from its seat, liquid will escape through theopenings in the washer 14, and the openings 8 in the easing into thespace between the casing 5 and the bottle neck for discharge through themouth of the bottle.

It will be apparent that when the bottle is turned to an uprightposition, or to such an angle as will cause the ball weight to seat thehollow cylindrical valve the latter will close the bottle neck andprevent the ingress of liquid, and also that if liquid under pressure isinjected into the bottle neck in whatever position it may be, the effectwill be to force the hollow valve to its seat, thus prevent refilling ofthe bottle. As the ball 19 is loosely arranged between the convexsurface 18 of the hollow valve, and the concave surface 7 of the casing,the ball will roll freely without binding at any point. The bottle mouthmay be closed by any suitable cork or stopper.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with a bottle neck having parallel internal annularshoulders, of a closure comprising a cylindrical casing closed at itsupper end and open at its lower end, and formed with liquid openings, asleeve of yielding material encircling said casing and fitting below theupper shoulder of said neck, an internally threaded collar engagingthreads at the lower end of the casing, and provided with an internalupwardly projecting annular flange, an elastic washer secured betweenthe casing and said collar, and resting on said flange, a hollowcylindrical valve adapted to rest on said washer, means for centeringsaid valve within the casing, and a ball weight loosely supportedbetween said valve and the upper end of said casing.

2. The combination with a bottle neck provided with an internal annularrecess, of a cylindrical casing, closed at its upper end, and open atits lower end, and formed with liquid openings, and with an externalannular rib below said openings, a sleeve of yielding material,encircling said casing below said rib, a flanged collar detachablyconnected to the lower end of said casing a washer clamped between saidcollar and the lower end of said casing, and constituting a valve seat,and a hollow cylindrical valve, adapted to rest on said washer.

3. The combination with a bottle neck provided with an internal annularrecess, of a cylindrical casing open at its lower end, and externallyscrew threaded, and closed at its upper end by a head or cap, concave onits under surface, and having liquid openings, a sleeve of yieldingmaterial encircling said casing and fitting within said recess, a collarscrewed to the lower end of the casing, and having an upturned internalflange, a washer secured by said flanged collar, a hollow cylindricalvalve adapted to rest on said washer, and having a convex upper end anda ball loosely supported between said convex end .of said valve and theconcave surface of the casing closure.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD RoAoH, ROBERT J. BRADY.

